An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/kreisen

by Friedrich Kluge

kreisen, kreißen, vb., ‘to be in labour,’ from MidHG. krîȥen, ‘to screech, shriek, groan’; comp. Du. krijten, ‘to shriek, shout.’ For further cognates see kreischen; akin also to MidHG. krîsten, earlier ModHG. kreisten, ‘to groan.’